Soil Health Assessment and Planning Tool (SHAP) is a soil health tool for Ontario farmers. Healthy soil functions contribute to improved crop productivity and resilience.
The tool involves taking a soil health test, and it helps measure soil health on your farm and identify areas for improvement. The SHAP tool is based on a laboratory soil test that evaluates key physical and biological indicators of soil functions. Soils At Guelph, University of Guelph has a SHAP Ground-Truthing Project focused on soil health testing. You can learn more at https://soilsatguelph.ca/soil-health-testing/.
Image 1. Soil probe used to take soil sample for lab analysis.
An OMAFA SHAP guidebook that you can access on fieldcropnews.ca helps users through sampling, evaluation and interpretation of results to come up with a tailored soil health management plan. There are optional add-on modules for the tool to evaluate risks, management and soil function which include compaction, erosion, tillage intensity, living roots and soil structure.
How it works?
SHAP is designed to be completed through the Survey 123 app or on a browser. This online process simplifies data entry, performs calculations and can automatically pull information from soil maps based on your farm’s GPS coordinates. There are two parts to SHAP:
- A soil management survey collects background information about the soil, current management practices, soil health issues and goals.
- In-field data collection & observations, including a soil sample for laboratory analysis of soil health indicators.
Figure 2. Example of SHAP test measurements from a good yield vs. poor yield region and corresponding score (100=best).
Customize your soil goals
The modular design of SHAP means you can use it as a simple test, a comprehensive assessment, or to select only the evaluations most relevant to your situation. Your own soil health goals will determine how and where to sample, and which modules to add.
Common goals include setting a benchmark for future comparisons, understanding the limitations and risks to your soil’s productivity, and comparing zones within a field.
Want more? Check out these add-on SHAP modules
There are optional modules available that provide additional information and a more in-depth view of soil health challenges and options for
improved soil management.
- Tillage disturbance index
- Living roots index
- Water erosion risk assessment
- Compaction risk assessment
- Soil structure assessment
Weather Summary: Thursday, August 8 to Wednesday, August 14, 2024
| Location | Highest Temp (°C) | Lowest Temp (°C) | Rain for Week (mm) | Rain Since April 1st (mm) | GDD0C April 1st | GDD5C April 1st | CHU May 1st |
| HARROW | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.0 | 13.1 | 0.0 | 379.1 | 2469 | 1792 | 2615 |
| 2023 | 28.1 | 12.5 | 57.4 | 414.2 | 2246 | 1582 | 2381 |
| 2022 | 29.9 | 11.3 | 20.5 | 355.8 | 2329 | 1683 | 2552 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 26.8 | 15.7 | 23.1 | 415.5 | 2321 | 1643 | 2554 |
| RIDGETOWN | |||||||
| 2024 | 26.9 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 483.2 | 2336 | 1663 | 2457 |
| 2023 | 27.4 | 12.0 | 10.8 | 429.5 | 2133 | 1478 | 2220 |
| 2022 | 29.2 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 237.6 | 2195 | 1556 | 2357 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 26.4 | 13.8 | 18.5 | 381.0 | 2184 | 1509 | 2380 |
| SARNIA | |||||||
| 2024 | 26.2 | 12.6 | 0.3 | 409.8 | 2327 | 1655 | 2435 |
| 2023 | 28.1 | 13.9 | 20.7 | 345.0 | 2101 | 1446 | 2157 |
| 2022 | 30.7 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 284.5 | 2195 | 1561 | 2324 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 26.6 | 15.3 | 20.8 | 384.5 | 2152 | 1480 | 2352 |
| LONDON | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.2 | 12.2 | 1.6 | 502.8 | 2316 | 1640 | 2449 |
| 2023 | 26.9 | 12.6 | 22.2 | 439.1 | 2121 | 1466 | 2213 |
| 2022 | 27.2 | 8.7 | 30.0 | 290.5 | 2131 | 1501 | 2294 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 26.9 | 14.3 | 28.5 | 388.1 | 2165 | 1495 | 2366 |
| BRANTFORD | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.4 | 11.6 | 6.5 | 437.6 | 2264 | 1593 | 2397 |
| 2023 | 27.5 | 11.9 | 11.6 | 355.4 | 2107 | 1451 | 2194 |
| 2022 | 28.3 | 8.9 | 18.0 | 266.0 | 2143 | 1502 | 2251 |
| WELLAND | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.8 | 12.7 | 3.6 | 405.2 | 2329 | 1655 | 2491 |
| 2023 | 26.3 | 13.8 | 5.2 | 389.6 | 2135 | 1474 | 2232 |
| 2022 | 28.5 | 9.8 | 1.8 | 275.8 | 2195 | 1545 | 2372 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 26.8 | 13.5 | 11.2 | 351.3 | 2177 | 1505 | 2383 |
| GODERICH | |||||||
| 2024 | 25.0 | 10.8 | 5.6 | 291.5 | 2117 | 1450 | 2231 |
| 2023 | 25.6 | 11.4 | 12.7 | 282.9 | 1962 | 1323 | 2036 |
| 2022 | 26.2 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 253.1 | 2003 | 1375 | 2135 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 24.3 | 14.0 | 23.0 | 338.6 | 1970 | 1308 | 2155 |
| ELORA | |||||||
| 2024 | 25.9 | 10.7 | 6.0 | 370.2 | 2103 | 1440 | 2230 |
| 2023 | 25.9 | 10.5 | 3.4 | 355.1 | 1949 | 1309 | 2017 |
| 2022 | 26.9 | 8.0 | 2.7 | 223.1 | 1960 | 1332 | 2060 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 25.4 | 11.6 | 27.2 | 386.4 | 1955 | 1297 | 2117 |
| MOUNT FOREST | |||||||
| 2024 | 25.8 | 10.1 | 4.6 | 350.5 | 2087 | 1427 | 2217 |
| 2023 | 26.1 | 12.2 | 9.0 | 340.9 | 1950 | 1314 | 2028 |
| 2022 | 25.8 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 306.3 | 1955 | 1333 | 2085 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 25.4 | 12.6 | 26.3 | 395.0 | 1938 | 1287 | 2121 |
| BARRIE | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.3 | 11.3 | 2.9 | 513.0 | 2055 | 1395 | 2198 |
| 2023 | 26.1 | 11.0 | 35.4 | 457.8 | 1935 | 1294 | 2011 |
| 2022 | 27.7 | 7.2 | 1.2 | 306.4 | 1923 | 1291 | 2044 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 25.5 | 12.1 | 19.7 | 343.5 | 1919 | 1271 | 2094 |
| PETERBOROUGH | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.7 | 9.8 | 11.0 | 382.4 | 2100 | 1436 | 2201 |
| 2023 | 26.7 | 11.0 | 21.5 | 390.7 | 1983 | 1332 | 2013 |
| 2022 | 27.8 | 5.7 | 1.2 | 265.8 | 1973 | 1331 | 2082 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 26.7 | 11.5 | 14.2 | 348.4 | 1987 | 1327 | 2125 |
| KEMPTVILLE | |||||||
| 2024 | 29.3 | 11.9 | 48.2 | 460.7 | 2217 | 1553 | 2384 |
| 2023 | 28.3 | 12.7 | 18.3 | 456.8 | 2110 | 1464 | 2173 |
| 2022 | 26.3 | 8.4 | 3.6 | 404.8 | 2104 | 1444 | 2247 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 27.0 | 13.1 | 29.4 | 372.2 | 2087 | 1429 | 2268 |
| SUDBURY | |||||||
| 2024 | 29.1 | 11.3 | 17.2 | 439.2 | 1937 | 1299 | 2093 |
| 2023 | 26.0 | 9.9 | 12.0 | 444.3 | 1832 | 1229 | 1931 |
| 2022 | 25.1 | 8.7 | 9.8 | 288.7 | 1788 | 1185 | 1960 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 25.0 | 12.4 | 24.2 | 358.3 | 1810 | 1212 | 2025 |
| EARLTON | |||||||
| 2024 | 30.7 | 8.5 | 4.9 | 368.4 | 1902 | 1271 | 2034 |
| 2023 | 26.6 | 10.2 | 15.6 | 294.0 | 1802 | 1198 | 1888 |
| 2022 | 26.0 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 295.0 | 1771 | 1177 | 1919 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 24.2 | 9.8 | 27.1 | 333.1 | 1687 | 1111 | 1883 |
| SAULT STE MARIE | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.4 | 10.1 | 17.6 | 431.0 | 1793 | 1142 | 1875 |
| 2023 | 25.2 | 11.0 | 7.5 | 274.0 | 1775 | 1169 | 1842 |
| 2022 | 23.9 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 360.1 | 1551 | 952 | 1612 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 25.1 | 10.8 | 13.5 | 351.6 | 1631 | 1034 | 1756 |
| THUNDER BAY | |||||||
| 2024 | 29.6 | 9.3 | 3.1 | 284.4 | 1700 | 1071 | 1748 |
| 2023 | 27.3 | 6.0 | 22.4 | 234.2 | 1649 | 1067 | 1756 |
| 2022 | 31.7 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 421.3 | 1560 | 994 | 1663 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 25.7 | 9.5 | 16.2 | 338.2 | 1604 | 1016 | 1744 |
| FORT FRANCES | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.5 | 8.7 | 3.6 | 373.9 | 1747 | 1108 | 1825 |
| 2023 | 25.5 | 4.9 | 34.9 | 290.1 | 1810 | 1221 | 1953 |
| 2022 | 28.5 | 5.7 | 0.0 | 532.9 | 1637 | 1073 | 1811 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 25.9 | 8.7 | 13.5 | 339.9 | 1727 | 1121 | 1893 |